Combine Harvester Cutter Bar with Variable Rigidity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cutting units for combine harvesters require a large number of pivotable arms to adapt to varying ground contours, leading to increased weight, production costs, and reduced flexibility, which complicates the adaptation of the cutter bar to different soil conditions.
Innovation Solution
Reducing the number of pivotable arms by varying the rigidity of the cutter bar across its width, with stiffer central sections and less rigid lateral sections, allowing for greater flexibility and adaptation to ground contours without compromising the ability to follow soil contours.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the number of pivotable arms is increased to improve adaptation to ground contours, then the ability to follow soil contours is improved, but the weight and production costs of the cutting unit increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cutter bar is designed with non-uniform rigidity distribution, where the central section has higher rigidity (through stiffeners or thicker wall structure) and the lateral sections have lower rigidity. This local differentiation allows the lateral parts to deform more easily to follow ground contours while the central part maintains structural integrity, reducing the need for numerous pivotable arms throughout the entire cutter bar.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the rigidity parameter of the cutter bar structure by incorporating stiffeners in the central section while leaving lateral sections more flexible. This parameter modification enables the cutter bar to achieve ground contour adaptation through controlled deformation rather than relying on multiple pivotable arms, thereby reducing weight while maintaining adaptability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the number of pivotable arms is increased to improve adaptation to ground contours, then the ability to follow soil contours is improved, but the production costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of uniformly increasing the number of pivotable arms across the entire cutter bar, the invention applies local quality differentiation by providing stiffeners only in the central section. This reduces the overall number of components needed, simplifies the structure, and lowers production costs while maintaining the required adaptability through the flexible lateral sections.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention modifies the structural parameters of the cutter bar by varying the rigidity along its length rather than uniformly increasing the number of pivotable arms. This parameter change approach reduces component count, simplifies manufacturing processes, and lowers production costs while achieving the same functional goal of ground contour adaptation.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the cutter bar is made more rigid to reduce deformation, then the structural stability is improved, but the ability to adapt to ground contours deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The cutter bar employs local quality differentiation with stiffeners positioned in the central section to provide structural stability where needed, while the lateral sections remain more flexible to enable ground contour adaptation. This spatial differentiation of rigidity allows simultaneous achievement of both structural stability and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the rigidity parameter distribution along the cutter bar length, creating a gradient where the central section has high rigidity for stability and the lateral sections have low rigidity for adaptability. This parameter optimization resolves the contradiction between structural stability and ground contour following capability.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the rigidity of the cutter bar is varied across its width, then the flexibility and adaptation to ground contours is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention implements local quality by adding stiffeners only to the central section of the cutter bar while leaving lateral sections simple and uniform. This localized modification approach minimizes manufacturing complexity compared to varying the entire cutter bar structure, as only specific regions require additional manufacturing steps for the stiffeners.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
AI summary
The present invention relates to a cutting unit (2) for mounting on a combine harvester, comprising a central section (4) attachable to the intake channel of a combine harvester and side sections (6) arranged laterally thereto, wherein the side sections (6) are pivotable about a pivot axis (8) pointing at least approximately in the direction of travel, a cutter bar (14) held by several arms (10, 12) pivotably connected to a frame of the central section (4) or a side section (6), conveying devices for conveying the cut crop, and drive devices for driving the cutter bar (14) and the conveying devices. To improve the known cutting unit, it is proposed that, on average, fewer than one pivotable arm (10, 12) be present per meter of working width of the cutting unit (2) across the total working width.